Silva BJJ Belt Rank Technical Knowledge Requirements
Initially, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was an art of self defense only tested in the unforgiving streets of Brazil, but with the first Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu established in 1967 an opportunity was created for practitioners of the art to test their skills in a safe setting. Today many academies focus on tournament results and this has had a profound impact on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, creating a much more competitive and dynamic art of defense because practitioners of the art compete against other individuals holding the same rank, age and size. Taking Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into the competitive realm has allowed it to become both a more realistic art of self defense and a competitive sport. In the area self defense competition allows a practitioner to face their fears, to apply techniques under the rush of adrenaline and pressure and to feel resistance that cannot be imitated in class sparring. In the area of sport jiu-jitsu competitions allow individuals and schools to test their skills in a safe setting of rules and regulations that promote individual and sport growth. Yet, there are other components of a practitioner’s abilities such as strength, athleticism, conditioning, drive that can lead a competitor to not fully learn the technical knowledge needed to be truly proficient at their rank. Because of this, at Aloisio Silva BJJ we rigorously test for technical knowledge efficiency as part of the belt rank promotion to ensure that our students have a full understanding and knowledge of the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
On average, it takes 8 years to 10 years to go from white to black belt. This may vary depending on the age that you start because of the belt rank age requirements. Other factors such as above average class attendance, natural abilities, prior knowledge, knowledge of other martial arts, competing, participation in the instructor’s program, character and team loyalty can shorten the time to a black belt while factors such as poor attitude, bad temper, poor class attendance or lack of common morality inside or outside of the school can lengthen in. In many traditional martial arts the promotion system is much more defined in terms of exact times and exact requirements. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu though has a specific culture, history and ethos and a legitimate belt takes a lot of time and a lot of hard work. Ultimately, all promotions are at the discretion of the instructor.
Belt rank promotion is considered a natural progression of our curriculum and at Aloisio Silva BJJ we do not charge for belt promotions or certificates that represent the growth of our students in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
White Belt to Gray Belt – 4 to 7 years of age
For a White Belt to be promoted to the rank of Gray Belt the student needs to consistently train 3 times a week for a minimum of one year.
Attacks
Mount
1 lock
1 choke hold
Guard
1 sweep
1 lock
1 choke hold
Side Control
1 lock
Takedowns
Leg Trip
Double leg
Escapes and defenses
Mount
1 escape
Guard Passes
1 closed guard pass
1 open guard pass
Falling Techniques
Front roll
Back roll
Side fall
Sprawl
Drills of Free Movement
2 minutes standing takedowns
2 minutes ground guard passes
Competition
The evaluation will be performed in a competition setting in which student’s performance will be evaluated by an instructor.
Self Defense
Base
One hand on wrist grip defense
Two hands on wrist grip defense
Defense from backpack grabbing
Defense from hair pulling
White Belt/Gray Belt to Yellow Belt – 7 to 15 years of age
For a White or Gray Belt to be promoted to the rank of Yellow Belt the student needs to consistently train 3 times a week for a minimum of one year.
Attacks
Mount
2 locks
1 choke hold
Guard
1 sweep
1 lock
1 chokehold
1 triangle
Side Control
1 chokehold
1 lock
Knee on the Belly
1 Chokehold
Back
1 Chokehold
Takedowns
Leg trip
Double leg
Hip toss
Single leg
Escapes and Defenses
Mount
Upa escape
Elbow escape
Side Control
1 escape
Guard Passes
1 closed guard pass
1 open guard pass
Falling Techniques
Front roll
Back roll
Side fall
Sprawl
Drills of Free Movement
3 minutes standing takedowns
3 minutes ground guard passes
Competition
The evaluation will be performed in a competition setting in which student’s performance will be evaluated by an instructor.
Self Defense
Base
One hand on wrist grip defense
Two hands on wrist grip defense
Defense from backpack grabbing
Defense from hair pulling
Defense from a slap to hip toss
Defense from guard being choked to arm bar
Defense from front hug under the arm
Defense from front hug over the arm
Yellow to Orange Belt 10 to 15 years of age
For a Yellow Belt to be promoted to the rank of Orange Belt the student needs to consistently train 3 times a week for a minimum of one year.
Attacks
Mount
2 locks
2 chokeholds
Guard
2 sweeps
2 locks
2 chokeholds
1 triangle
Open Guard
1 sweep
Half Guard
1 sweep
Side Control
2 chokeholds
2 locks
Knee on the Belly
1 Chokehold
2 Locks
Back
2 Chokeholds
Takedowns
2 leg sweeps
2 hip tosses
2 double legs
1 jump in the guard
1 flying arm bar
Escapes and Defenses
Mount
3 escapes
Side Control
2 escapes
Kesa Gatame
1 escape
Guard Passes
2 closed guard passes
2 open guard passes
1 half guard pass
Drills of Free Movement
3 minutes standing takedowns
3 minutes ground guard passes
Competition
The evaluation will be performed in a competition setting in which student’s performance will be evaluated by an instructor.
Self Defense
Base
Defense from front hug under the arm
Defense from front hug over the arm
Defense form back hug under the arm
Defense from back hug over the arm
Defense from front kick to leg sweep
Defense from guard being choked to arm bar
Defense from guard being punched to triangle
Orange Belt to Green Belt 13 to 15 years of age
For an Orange Belt to be promoted to the rank of Green Belt the student needs to consistently train 3 times a week for a minimum of one year.
Attacks
Mount
2 locks
2 chokeholds
1 double attack
Guard
2 sweeps
2 locks
2 chokeholds
2 triangles
1 omoplata
1 double attack
Open Guard
2 sweeps
Half Guard
2 sweeps
Butterfly Guard
1 sweep
Side Control
2 chokeholds
3 locks
North and South
1 submission
Knee on the Belly
1 Chokehold
2 Locks
Back
3 chokeholds
Turtle Position
2 chokeholds
Takedowns
2 leg sweeps
2 double legs
2 hip tosses
1 single leg
1 sacrifice takedown
1 arm drag
1 jump to guard
1 flying arm bar
Escapes and Defenses
Mount
4 escapes
Side Control
2 escapes
Kesa Gatame
2 escapes
Guard Passes
3 closed guard passes
1 escape from arm bar
1 escape from triangle
3 open guard passes
2 half guard passes
1 butterfly guard pass
Drills of Free Movement
4 minute standing takedowns
4 minute ground guard passes
Competition
The evaluation will be performed in a competition setting in which student’s performance will be evaluated by an instructor.
Self Defensee
Defense from head lock up and down
Defense from mount being punched
Defense from punch to double leg
Defense from standing rear naked choke
Defense from front guillotine standing and in the guard
Self defense simulator
White, Yellow, Orange, Green to Blue Belt 16 years of age and older
For a White, Yellow, Orange or Green Belt to be promoted to the rank of Blue Belt the student needs to consistently train 3 times a week for a minimum of one year.
Attacks
Mount
2 locks
2 chokeholds
1 way to take the back
1 double attack
Guard
1 guillotine
1 omoplata
1 arm triangle
1 triangle
1 kimura
1 choke
1 way to take the back
Sweeps
2 close guards
1 open guard
1 butterfly guard
1 half guard
Side Control
2 chokeholds
3 locks
1 way to the mount
1 way to the back
1 way to the knee to the bally
Knee on the Belly
2 chokeholds
2 locks
Back
2 submissions from sitting position
2 submissions from back mount position
Foot Lock
1 straight foot lock
Takedowns
2 leg trip
1 double leg
2 hip tosses
1 single leg
1 jump on the guard
1 pull to arm bar
Escapes and Defenses
Mount
2 upa escapes
2 elbow escapes
Side Control
1 escape putting in the guard
1 escape getting on top
Kesa Gatame
Bridge and roll
Head escape
Guard Passes
2 closed guard passes
1 under the leg
1 over the leg
1 open guard pass
1 half guard pass
1 butterfy guard pass
Falling Techniques
Front roll
Back roll
Side fall
Front fall
Back fall
Sprawl
Drills of Free Movement
3 minutes standing takedowns
3 minutes ground guard passes
Competition
The evaluation will be performed in a competition setting in which student’s performance will be evaluated by an instructor.
Self Defense
Base
One hand on wrist grip defense
Two hands on wrist grip defense
Defense from front bear hug under and over the arms
Defense from back bear hug under and over the arms
Defense from backpack grabbing
Defense from hair pulling
Defense from a slap to hip toss
Defense from guard being choked to arm bar
Physical Conditioning
20 pushups
100 sit-ups
30 burpees
Monkeys
Sideways monkeys
Straight leg monkeys
Samurais
Hooks
Hip escape
Light sparring (rolling)
2 rounds of 6 minutes with gi
1 round of 6 minutes no gi
Blue Belt to Purple Belt 17 years of age and older
For a Blue Belt to be promoted to the rank of Purple Belt the student needs to consistently train 3 times a week for a minimum of two years.
Attacks
Mount
2 submissions from low mount
3 submissions from middle mount
3 submissions from high mount
2 double attack
Close Guard
6 locks
6 chokeholds
2 ways to take the back
2 double attacks
5 sweeps
Open Guard
Spider guard setup
2 submissions
2 sweeps
Sit-up Guard
2 submissions
2 sweeps
Butterfly Guard
2 submissions
2 sweeps
1 way to take the back
Half Guard
4 sweeps
1 submission
1 way to take the back
Side Control
4 chokeholds
4 locks
Kesa Gatame
2 locks
2 chokeholds
Knee on the Belly
Switch sides
2 chokeholds
2 locks
North and South
2 chokeholds
2 locks
Back
4 submissions
Turtle Position
2 submissions from the front
2 submissions from the side
2 ways to the back from the back
Foot Locks
2 straight foot locks
Takedowns
2 leg trips
2 double legs
3 hip tosses
2 single legs
2 sacrifice takedowns
Escapes and Defenses
Mount
2 high mounts
2 middle mounts
2 low mounts
1 choke escape
1 Americana escape
1 arm bar escape
1 Ezequiel choke escape
Side Control
2 with opponent in the middle
2 with the opponent facing up with hands under the arm
2 with opponent facing down
2 north and south
3 kesa gatame
Guard Passes
2 standing passes
2 knee passes
1 arm bar escape
1 choke escape
2 triangle escapes
1 kimura escape
1 straight foot lock escape
1 guillotine with arm in and with arm out
Half Guard
4 passes
Turtle
2 front escapes
1 side escape
2 back escapes
Back
2 escapes from hooks
1 escape from rear naked choke
1 escape from lapel choke
Drills of Free Movement
3 minutes standing takedowns
3 minutes ground guard passes
Competition
The evaluation will be performed in a competition setting in which student’s performance will be evaluated by an instructor.
Self Defense
Head lock face up and face down defense
Escape from standing and in the guard guillotine with 1 arm in and with no arm
Escape from punch to double leg
Escape from the mount being punched
Escape from rear naked choke standing and in the ground
2 minutes of self defense simulator
Physical Conditioning
2 sets of 20 pushups
4 sets of 50 sit-ups
2 sets of 30 burpees
Monkeys
Sideways monkeys
Straight legs monkeys
Samurais
Hooks
Outside hooks
Hip escape
Tigers
Climbers
Spiders
Light sparring (rolling)
2 rounds of 7 minutes with gi
1 round of 7 minutes no gi
Purple Belt to Brown Belt 18 years of age and older
For a Purple Belt to be promoted to the rank of Brown Belt the student needs to consistently train 3 times a week for a minimum of one year.
In addition, you will need to volunteer 40 hours as an instructor’s assistant in which you will begin to learn how to conduct a class.
Attacks
Mount
4 submissions from low mount
6 submissions from middle mount
3 submissions from high mount
3 submissions from the classic mount
3 double attacks
Close Guard
8 locks
8 chokeholds
5 double attacks
8 sweeps
Open Guard
Spider guard setup
5 submissions
5 sweeps
Half Guard
5 sweeps
2 submissions
Side Control
10 chokeholds
10 locks
Knee on the Belly
2 ways to the back
3 chokeholds
3 locks
North and South
5 chokeholds
5 locks
Back
8 submissions
Turtle Position
3 submissions from the front
5 submissions from the side
2 submissions from the back
4 ways to the back
Foot Lock
2 straight foot locks
2 toe holds
Leg Lock
2 setups
Takedowns
4 leg trips
3 double legs
4 hip tosses
3 single legs
4 sacrifice takedowns
Escapes and Defenses
Mount
6 mount position escapes
6 mount submissions escapes
Side Control
6 side controls escapes
6 side control submission escapes
Guard Passes
6 passes
6 submission escapes
6 open guard passes
6 spider guard passes
6 half guard passes
Back
4 back position escapes
4 back submission escapes
Drills of Free Movement
3 minutes standing takedowns
3 minutes ground guard passes
Competition
The evaluation will be performed in a competition setting in which student’s performance will be evaluated by an instructor.
Self Defense
Escape from 3 standing head locks
Escape from 3 standing and in the guard guillotines
Escape from punch to double leg
Escape from the mount being punched
Escape from stick attack
Escape from knife attack
Escape from gun attack
3 minutes of self defense simulator
Physical Conditioning
2 sets of 20 pushups
4 sets of 50 sit-ups
2 sets of 30 burpees
Full set of the Silva warm-ups
Light sparring (rolling)
2 rounds of 8 minutes with gi
1 round of 8 minutes no gi
Brown Belt to Black Belts 20 years of age and older
For a Brown Belt to be promoted to the rank of Black Belt the student needs to consistently train 3 times a week for a minimum of one year.
In addition, you will need to volunteer 80 hours as a class instructor in which you will begin to conduct a class.
Attacks
Mount
20 submissions
5 double attacks
Close Guard
20 submissions
5 double attacks
10 sweeps
Open Guard
Spider guard setup
5 submissions
5 sweeps
Half Guard
5 sweeps
5 submissions
Side Control
30 Submissions
Knee on the Belly
10 submissions
North and South
15 submissions
Back
10 submissions
Turtle Position
20 submissions
Foot Lock
3 straight foot locks
3 toe holds
Leg Lock
3 setups
Takedowns or Standing Techniques
20 takedowns
5 ways to bring the fight to the ground
5 submissions
Escapes and Defenses
Mount
6 mount position escapes
6 mount submission escapes
Side Control
6 side control escapes
6 side control submission escapes
Guard Passes
6 passes
6 submission escapes
6 open guard passes
6 spider guard passes
6 half guard passes
Back
4 back position escapes
4 back submission escapes
Drills of Free Movement
5 minute standing takedowns
5 minute ground guard passes
Competition
The evaluation will be performed in a competition setting in which student’s performance will be evaluated by an instructor.
Self Defense
The entire self defense from white to brown belt
5 minutes of self defense simulator
Physical Conditioning
3 sets of 20 pushups
4 sets of 50 sit-ups
3 sets of 30 burpees
Full set of the Silva warm-up
Light sparring (rolling)
2 rounds of 10 minutes with gi
1 round of 10 minutes no gi
BJJ Referee
Must know all point systems and referee gestures
Referee a 5 minute match
Once you have been awarded your Black Belt the acquisition of the belt rank stripes is much different than the prior belts. The first three stripes will be automatically awarded every three years if you are an active participant of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The fourth, fifth and sixth stripe are automatically awarded every five years if you are an active participant of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The seventh and eight stripe are automatically awarded every seven years if you are an active participant of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the belt will be a red and black belt (koral). The ninth and final stripe is automatically awarded 10 years after the eight stripe if you are an active participant of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the belt will be all red
If as a Black Belt you are an instructor you can only promote up to Brown Belt until you have received your third stripe. Upon being awarded your third stripe you are considered a Professor and will be able to promote a student to the rank of Black Belt together with a five degree or higher Black Belt. After being awarded your fifth stripe you will be considered a Master and will be able to promote a student to the rank of Black Belt independently. Aloisio Silva BJJ will work closely with you in supporting your transition from student to instructor.